I want to be a declutterer
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381632)
Rockingham, Australia
April 17, 2026 2:03am CST
Lately I’ve been watching reruns of Phil Spencer, Secret Agent. It’s a British show and Phil is an estate agent who goes into an individual’s house and gives them advice on how to present it in a way that will be attractive to buyers.
In most cases, you don’t need to be an expert to be able to pick that one of the first things that needs to happen is to clear out some of the junk and clutter. Some houses are full of books, posters, pictures, ornaments, and it amazes me that sellers can’t see for themselves that an untidy, cluttered house isn’t going to impress potential buyers.
Decluttering isn’t the only thing that Phil suggests but it’s one of the most obvious to me. Seeing these programmes makes me itch to declutter a house. My own is pretty good at the moment but I’d love to tackle some of these homes. Maybe I missed my calling and I should have become a professional declutterer.
The photo is mine.
17 people like this
19 responses
@xFiacre (14768)
• Ireland
17 Apr
@Judyev My wife decided to declutter yesterday. Instead she just moved the clutter around a bit. It would be so good to declutter someone else’s house. When I was working I had cause to visit many homes and I just couldn’t help being somewhat judgemental though that’s not what I was there for. It was hard not to comment. One house I visited regularly had 15 clocks in the lounge, all ticking loudly and none telling the same time as the others.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (381632)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Apr
It's isn't that hard really. At least not in the houses I've been seeing. And who needs 15 clocks but perhaps he was a collector.
@Fleura (34926)
• United Kingdom
17 Apr
You've got to be really dedicated though to put all your books (and bookcases) etc into storage not knowing how long it might take to sell the house - you could be paying for months of storage and it might not be necessary. We bought our last house even though the place was so full of stuff that it wasn't possible to even open the bedroom doors properly!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (381632)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Apr
We boxed up a lot of items but it was stored in a garage on the property. When we moved to our permanent (for a period) home, it was like Christmas opening up the boxes. 
I don't think a cluttered house would really worry me if everything else suited what I wanted.
I don't think a cluttered house would really worry me if everything else suited what I wanted.1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222166)
• United States
19 Apr
You can still do it part time if you want. My house needs to be downsized and decluttered.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381632)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Apr
@LindaOHio Oh, I wish I could come and help you declutter.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222166)
• United States
20 Apr
@JudyEv I have 4 bedrooms and a basement...and they're all full!
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189721)
• Boise, Idaho
17 Apr
Cute title. Yes, junk and clutter is a good way to start. Fixing up the kitchen and bath is a must too I've heard.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (54706)
• United States
17 Apr
I enjoy organizing and decluttering too.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (174166)
• United States
17 Apr
That's something I'm always suggesting we need to do here but Pretty doesn't listen to me. *shrug* I'd love to go away for a weekend and let someone else declutter our house. As long as they could tell me which box they stuck out in the garage has all my gadgets in them.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (174166)
• United States
17 Apr
@JudyEv We keep moving more and more stuff into the garage and then Pretty buys more stuff because we have room for more stuff. 
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381632)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Apr
@DaddyEvil Yeah. I can understand that's a bit of a problem. You declutter then fill up the space! 
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (135491)
• Marion, Ohio
17 Apr
Love the picture. I would have enjoyed doing that to. And it's easier with other people's stuff
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (135491)
• Marion, Ohio
18 Apr
@JudyEv Some people are extremely bad about hoarding everything. If it's that then they don't even see the mess.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381632)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Apr
@wolfgirl569 They do seem to be blind to all the clutter. I know when you buy a house it will be empty when you move in but clutter still clouds your judgement a bit.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (97845)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
17 Apr
I took so little with me from Latvia that decluttering is not a problem for me but what is is deciding what to do with the photo albums I have because once I got they'll be tossed out anyway.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (254949)
• United States
17 Apr
I find myself being a bit judgmental when seeing some homes for the first time. Clutter is one of them and the size and proportion of furniture is another. Not to change the subject, but I often find myself critiquing the clothes some, well, many….. women wear in public. Never to their face, just in my mind.
1 person likes this
@Traceyjayne (11221)
• United Kingdom
17 Apr
I haven’t seen that particular programme but I have seen other programmes that Phil Spencer has done. Declutterring is big business over here at the moment ….maybe you should follow your calling. You could make a fortune by throwing away other peoples rubbish !
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381632)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Apr
@Traceyjayne He seems a nice guy really. He's pretty diplomatic but manages to get the home-owners to realise what they need to do.
@JudyEv (381632)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Apr
I'd never heard of him but all the home-owners on the show recognise him immediately.
@Traceyjayne (11221)
• United Kingdom
18 Apr
@JudyEv he does several programmes here ….all on property. He sometimes co presents with a lady called Kirstie.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169387)
• United States
17 Apr
It is easier to declutter someone else's house than your own.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381632)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Apr
That is so, so true. There is not that emotional attachment for starters.
@snowy22315 (208648)
• United States
17 Apr
Sometimes things take on much more meaning than they should in someone's life.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381632)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Apr
Yes, that's true and hopefully buyers would look past all the belongings to the potential of a place.
@Shiva49 (28358)
• Singapore
17 Apr
Decluttering is not easy for me unless I am left with no other choice.
The last major decluttering occured during Covid time.
We should not leave a mess of items for others to clear.
I do it in fits and starts whenever I realise it is getting tougher as times goes by.
1 person likes this
@Dreamerby (10111)
• Calcutta, India
17 Apr
The picture fills in me warmth and vitality.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381632)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Apr
I'm glad you like it. I love the bit of gold above the clouds.
